Refrigerator car



April 19, 1932. E. D. BRIGHAM, JR

REFRIGERATOR CAR 3 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed May 14, 1928 O O O O 0 0 0 0 OO April 1 1932- E. D. BRIGHAM'. JR 1,854,779

REFRIGERATOR CA Origglnal Filed May 14,.1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 is provided.

I Patented Apr. 19, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDMUND D. BRIGHAM, JR., HIGHLAND PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NORTH AMER- ICAN -CAR CORPORATION, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS REFRIGERATOR CAR Application filed May 14, 1928, Serial No. 277,506. Renewed January 25, 1932.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in refrigerator cars, and more particularly to improvements in the interior fittings of such a car whereby a proper and continuous circulation of air is maintained between the refrigerant and the goods stored within the refrigerating chamber.

One object of the inventiouis to provide a plurality of improved racks, along the floor, ends and side walls of the refrigerating chamher so as to provide circulation passages around the stored goods.

Another object is to provide an improved form of rack whereby the circulation of air longitudinally of the car is enforced.

Another object is to provide an improved means of storing the refrigerant, whereby a better circulation of air therethrough, and into and out of the refrigerating chamber Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of end rack, whereby a better distribution of the cold air issuing from the refrigerant chamber is provided into and through the refrigerating chamber.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description of one approved form of refrigerator car constructed according to this invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 is a partial longitudinal vertical section through the can.

. Fig. 2 is a detail horizontal section taken substantially on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section, taken through one end portion of the car. I

Fig. 4 is an interior perspectiveview of one end of the car, also showing the car in transverse vertical section.

The car body 1 is'mounted on the usual trucks and supporting structure, indicated generally at 2. The floor, walls and roofs of the'car body are built-up. of a plurality of layers of suitable material, with enclosed air spaces, whereby the desired strength and insulating properties are obtained. A door 3 is positioned in each side wall, intermediate halves of the car (measuring from the side the ends of the car, and preferably thetwo doors to each end of the car) are substantially identical. Although approximately only one-half of the car is illustrated in the drawings, it is to be understood that the other half will be a duplication of the structure r shown.

A vertical bulk-head 4 is positioned between the side walls adjacent each end of the car, so as to separate an end refrigerant chamber 5 from the main central refrigerating chamber 6. The bulk-head 4 terminates short of the floor, as indicated at 7, and short of the roof, as indicated at 8, so that a circulation of air between. the chambers is per- 1nitted,'the hot air flowing into the refrigerant chamber through upper passage 8 and the cold air flowing out through the lower passagel7. Y

A plurality of refrigerant holding baskets 9 are positioned within chamber 5, as best 7 shown in Figs. 1 and 3. These baskets are spaced from the end wall of the car, as indicated at 10, from the side walls, as indicated at 11, and from the bulk-head 4, as indicated at 12, so as to permit a free circulation of air 7 around the baskets. In the example here shown, there are four of these baskets 9, separated by spaces 13, and the baskets themselves are of a perforated or open mesh construction so as to permit a free circulation of 30 air between and through the baskets. The usual hatches 14 are provided in the roof of the car to permit the introduction of ice or other refrigerantsinto the baskets. The bottom of each basket 9 is formed of a plu- 35 rality of supporting members 15, spaced apart, as at 16, to permit water to drip into the pan 17, provided with a drain 18, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

Adjacent the floor 33, bulk-head 4, and side walls 27 of the main refrigerating chamber 6, are positioned bottom racks A, end racks B, and side racks G, for suitably-spacing the goods stored within the refrigerating chamber away from the walls thereof, so as to provide for a controlled circulation of air around and through the chamber. Each end rack B consists of a plurality of vertical stringers 19, suitably spaced apart and secured to the bulk-head 4, and a plurality of horizontal slats 20 carried by the stringers. The stringers 19 are of sufficient width to provide vertical air passages 21 of considerable capacity between the several stringers, and between the bulk-head 4 and slats 20. The individual slats 20 are also spaced apart, as indicated at 22, to permit the cooling medium to flow out from passages 21 through openings 22 into the refrigerating chamber. The lowermost slat 23 of each end rack B is of suflicient width to reach approximately from the top of bottom racks A to the bottom of bulk-head 4, so that the cold air flowing out through'passage 7 from the refrigerant chamber 5 will be forced to flow partly upwardly through passages 21 behind end rack B, and partly downwardly beneath the bottom racks A.

The side racks C comprise four similar racks, two being secured to each side wall of the car, one at each side of the center door 3. Each of these racks is of a length sufficient to reach substantially from the end rack B to one side of the door 3. The rack is of less width than the height of the car and is secured to the side wall 27 so as to terminate short of the floor racks A, and short of the roof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. Each rack C. is composed of longitudinally extending stringers 24, on which are mounted the spaced vertical slats 25. The stringers 24 are spaced apart to provide air passages 26 extending lengthwise of the car between the slats 25 and the side wall 27 of the car, and the spaces 28 between the slats 25 permit the air from passages 26 to flow out into the interior of refrigerating chamber 6. A rounded end post 39 is provided at that end of rack C- adjacent the door 3, as best shown in Fig. 2. This post serves not only to close the ends of passages 26 adjacent the doors, so that the air in these passages will be forced, to flow out through openings 28, but also serves as a rounded buffer for the end of the rack adjacent the doorway when goods are being placed in or removed fromthe car.

The floor or bottom racks A comprise a plurality of similar sections 29, each approximately half the? width of the refrigerating chamber 6 and the combined length of the section being sufficient to reach from the-both end racks B to the doorway 3. Each rack section 29 is composed of longitudinally extending stringers 30 upon which are mounted the transverse slats 31. Air passages 32 are thus provided between the floor 3 and the slats 31, these passages extending lengthwise of the car, and the passages 34 between the spaced slats 31 permit an upward circulation of cold air from passages 32 into the interior of chamber 6. The outer edge of each section 29 is hinged at 35 to brackets 36 mounted on floor 33 adjacent the side wall 27. This permits the several sections of the bottom'racks A to be swung up against the the car.

respective side walls of the car (when the car is empty) in order that the floor of the car may be cleaned, and such dirt and refuse removed as has found its way beneath the bottom racks. A short rack section 37 (see Fig. 1) is hinged at 38 to the inner end of each of the rack sections 29 positioned adjacent the doorway 3. These sections 37 are of the same construction as the racks 29 and of a length substantially equal to half the width of the door 3. When the racks 29 are folded up against the sides of the car, these end sections 37 may be swung back against the bottom of racks 29 so as not to obstruct the door-ways 3.

When in service, with the several racks positioned as shown in the drawings, the two end portions of the refrigerating chamber 6 will be filled with the perishable goods introduced through the central doors 3. The receptacles containing these goods may be packed tightly into the car, but will be s aced from the walls of the car by the racks if B and C, as already described. When the car is substantially filled, wedges are placed between the central tiers of receptacles in the usual manner, and the doors 3 secured in place. The baskets 9 are filled with ice or other refrigerant introduced through hatches 14 in the usual manner. The warmer air within the refrigerating chamber will rise to the top and flow beneath the roof toward either end of the car and enter the refrigerant chamber 5 through passages 8. This air will become cooled by the ice and flow down around or through the baskets 9, the colder air flowing out through passage 7 into the refrigerating chamber 6. some of this air will be deflected upwardly by the bottom slat 23 behind the end racks B, and some will be deflected downwardly beneath the floor racks A. The air which flows up the corners of the car compartment in front of the bulkhead and finds its way behind the side racks C will flow toward the center of the car through longitudinal passages 26. The cold air thus circulating behind all of the racks will diffuse out through the numerous openings between the slats of the respective racks so as to cool the goods stored within the car, the air passing upwardly to the roof of the car as it becomes heated, and then flowing back to the refrig erant chambers 5 at each end of the car.

It should be noted that the stringers of the bottom racks A, and of the side racks C extend longitudinally of the car, so that the cooling air in the passages therebetween is forced to How lengthwise of the car so as to cool the goods located toward the center of It will be apparent that the cold air in each horizontal side passage 26 will be. forced out into the car by the horizontal stringers 24: and cannot flow to the top of the car behind the racks. In this manner the 'gitudinally of the goods near the floor of the car will be cooled as effectively as those located at greater elevations. This is a particular advantage when the car is only partially loaded. The stringers of the end racks B extend vertically so that the cooling air behind these racks will be deflected upwardly and thence forced out into the car.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerator car, a bulkhead near one end of the car dividing the car into an end chamberfor the refrigerant and a larger refrigerator chamber, the bulkhead terminating short of the floor and roof to provide upper and lower-air passages between the chambers, a means for holding the refrigerant positioned within the end chamber so as to leave free passages for air circulation therearound, and racks positioned against the floor, side-walls and bulkhead in the refrigerating chamber, each rack consisting of a plurality of spaced slats and stringers on which the slats are mounted, the stringers respectively engaging the chamber walls and bulkhead and holding the slats spaced therefrom to provide air passages between the slats and walls, the air passages behind the side racks and floor racks extending lonca-r.

2. Ina refrigerator car, a bulkhead near one end of the car dividing the car into an end chamber for the refrigerant and a larger refrigerating chamber, the bulkhead terminating short of the floor and roof to provide upper and lower air passages between the chambers, a means for holding the refrigerant positioned within the end chamber so as to leave'free passages for air circulation therearound, and racks positioned against the floor and side-walls and an end rack positioned against the bulkhead in the refrigerating chamber, each rack consisting of a plurality of spaced slats and stringers on which the slats are mounted, the stringers holding the slats spaced from the chamber walls to provide air passages between the slats and walls, the stringers of the side racks and floor racks extending longitudinally of the car, and the stringers of the end rack extending vertically, the lowermost slatof the end rack being of suflicient width to extend from the top of the bottom rack to the bottom of the bulkhead. a

3. In a refrigerator car provided with doors in the central portions of the side walls, a bulkhead positioned vertically adjacent each end of the car dividin the car in a large central refrigerating cham er and a pair of relatively small end chambers for the refrigerant, the bulkheads terminating short of the floor and roof to provide upper and lower air passages between the chambers, means for holding the refrigerant positioned within the end chambers so as to leave free passages for air circulation therearound, and

racks positioned against the floor, sidewalls, and bulkheads in the refrigerating chamber, each rack consisting of a plurality of spaced slats and stringers on which the slats are mounted, the stringers of the floor and side racks engaging these respective chamber walls and holding the slats spaced therefrom to, provide air circulation passages between the slats and walls which enforce a fiow of air longitudinally of the car.

4. In a refrigerator car provided with doors in the central portions of the side walls, a bulkhead positioned vertically adjacent each end of the car dividing the car into a largecentral refrigerating chamber and a pair of relatively small end chambers for the refrigerant, the bulkheads terminating short of the floor and roof to provide upper and lower air passages between the chambers, means for holding the refrigerant positioned within the end chambers so as to leave free passages for air circulation therearound, and racks positioned against the floor and sidewalls, and end racks positioned against the bulkheads in the refrigerating chamber, each rack consisting of a plurality of spaced slats and stringers on which the slats are mounted, the stringers of the floor and side racks engaging these respective chamber walls and holding the slats spaced therefrom to pro-v vide air circulation passages between the slats and walls which enforce a flow of air longitudinally of the car, and the stringers of the end racks extending vertically and engaging the bulkheads to form passages through which the air flows vertically, the lowermost slats of the end racks being of sufiicient width to extend from the top of the bottom racks to the bottom of the bulkheads.

5. In a refrigerator car provided with doors in the central portions of the side walls,"

a bulkhead positioned vertically adjacent each end of the car dividing the car into a large central refrigerating chamber and a pair of relatively small end chambers for the refrigerant, the bulkheads terminating, short of the floor and roof to provide upper and lower air passages between the chambers, means for holding the refrigerant positioned within the end chambers so as to leave free passagesfor air circulation therearound, and racks positioned against the floor, sidewalls, and bulkheads in the refrigerating chamber to maintain circulation passages around the goods vstored therein, the floor rack being formed in a plurality of sections, each section being half the width of the refrigerating chamber. and hinged along one side wall of the chamber so that it may be swung up to a vertical position along the wall of the car, each'of the sections adjacent the doors having a hinged end portion which will swing back to permit access through the door openings.

6. Ina refrigerator car provided with doors in the central portions of the side walls, a bulkhead positioned substantially vertically adjacent each end of the car dividing the car into a large central refrigerating chamber and a pair of relatively small end chambers for the refrigerating means, the bulkheads terminating short of the floor and roof to provide upper and lower air passages between the chambers, means for holding the refrigerant positioned within the end chambers so as to leave free passages for the circulation of air therearound, and a rack positioned adjacent the floor in the main refrigerating chamber to maintain circulation passages beneath the goods stored therein, said floor rack being formed in a plurality of sections, each section being substantially half the width of the refrigerating chamber and hinged along one side wall of the chamber so that it may be swung up to a vertical position along the side wall of the car, each of the sections adjacent the doors having a hinged end portion which will swing back to permit accessthrough door opening.

7. In a refrigerator car vprovided with doors in the central portions of the side walls, a bulkhead positioned substantially vertically adjacent each end of the car dividing the car into a large central refrigerating chamber and a pair of relatively small end chambers for the refrigerating means, the bulkheads terminating short of the floor and roof to provide upper and lower air passages between the chambers, means for holding the refrigerant positioned within the end chambers so as to leave free passages for the circulation of air therearound, and a rack positioned adjacent the floor in the refrigerating chamber to support the goods stored therein and provide circulation passages beneath the goods, said rack consisting of a plurality of to provide upper and lower air passages between the chambers, means for holding the refrigerant positioned within the end chambers so as to leave free passages for the circulation of air therearound, and racks positioned adjacent the floor and bulkheads in the refrigerating chamber, each rack consisting of a plurality of spaced slats and stringers on which the slats are mounted, the stringers of the floor rack engaging the floor and extending longitudinally of the car to hold the slats spaced from the floor and provide air circulation passages between the slats and floor to enforce a flow of air longitudinally of the car, the stringers of the end racks extending vertically to provide vertical air passages between the slats and bulkheads, the lowermost slat of each end rack being of sufficientwidth to extend from the top of the floor rack to the bottom of the adjacent bulkhead.

EDMUND D. BRIGHAM, J R..

spaced slats and stringers on which the slats are mounted, the stringers extending longitudinally of the car and engaging the floor and holding the slats spaced therefrom to provide air circulation passages between the slats and floor to enforce a flow of air longitudinally of the car, the rack being formed in a plurality of sections, each section being substantially half the width of the refrigerating chamber and hinged along one side wall of the chamber so that it may be swung up to a vertical position along the side wall of the car, each of the sections adjacent the doors having a hinged end portion which will swing back to permit access through the door openings.

8. In a refrigerator car provided with doors in the central portions of the side walls, a bulkhead positioned substantially vertically adjacent each end of the car dividing the car into a large central refrigerating chamber and a pair of relatively small end chambers for the refrigerating means, the bulkheads terminating short of the floor and roof 

